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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for March 23, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers present a shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules- An optical diode made with silicon technology can be used for quantum information
- Safer way to make diazomethane developed
- Researchers create computer simulations of primordial black holes striking the Earth
- Gene gives cells a 'safety belt' against genetic damage
- Archaeologists reconstruct diet of Nelson's Navy with new chemical analysis of excavated bones
- An extinct species of scops owl has been discovered in Madeira
- New surveillance camera can search 36 million faces for matches in one second
- 'Bed-of-nails' breast implant deters cancer cells
- Huge hamsters and pint-sized porcupines thrive on islands
- Learning best when you rest: Sleeping after processing new info most effective, new study shows
- Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus
- Graphene and DNA: 'Wonder material' may hold key to fast, inexpensive genetic sequencing
- Astronomers put forward new theory on size of black holes
- Facebook buys patents from IBM to defend itself
Space & Earth news
Audit: Gas lines tied to fracking lack oversight
(AP) -- Government auditors say federal officials know nothing about thousands of miles of pipelines that carry natural gas released through the drilling method known as fracking, and need to step up oversight to make sure they are running safely.
Space Image: Dusty Mars rover's self portrait
(PhysOrg.com) -- This self portrait from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows dust accumulation on the rover's solar panels as the mission approached its fifth Martian winter. The dust reduces the rover's power supply, and the rover's mobility is limited until the winter is over or wind cleans the panels.
Global cyber anti-garbage drive shifts into gear
Cyber-environmentalists said Friday 80 countries have joined the World Cleanup 2012 campaign which will see volunteers across the globe use the Internet to target illegal trash dumps for cleanup.
Students' experiments to play out in space
Science experiments devised by teenage students, one from Egypt and two from the United States, will be conducted in space as part of a move by YouTube and Lenovo to inspire young minds.
Cloudy skies delay Va. suborbital rocket launches
(AP) -- The launch of five suborbital rockets from Virginia's coast is being rescheduled again.
First-ever use of airborne resistivity system in Antarctica allows researchers to look beneath surface in untapped terri
(PhysOrg.com) -- National Science Foundation- (NSF) funded researchers have successfully tested equipment to map the hidden distribution of groundwater and ice in the McMurdo Dry Valleys region for the first time in Antarctica.
Modeling extreme space weather
Explosions on the sun regularly disrupt the magnetic envelope surrounding Earth, but that envelope, the magnetosphere, largely protects the surface of the planet itself from space weather – with one exception. As a rule, changes in magnetic fields cause electric currents and vice versa, so all that change in the magnetosphere causes electric currents to form on the ground. Called geomagnetically induced currents or GICs, such currents extend some 60 miles underground, electrifying any conductors – power grid lines, or oil pipes, for example – along the way.
NASA GRAIL returns first student-selected moon images
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of two NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon has beamed back the first student-requested pictures of the lunar surface from its onboard camera. Fourth grade students from the Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Mont., received the honor of making the first image selections by winning a nationwide competition to rename the two spacecraft.
Taming uncertainty in climate prediction
(PhysOrg.com) -- Uncertainty just became more certain. Atmospheric and computational researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used a new scientific approach called "uncertainty quantification," or UQ, that allowed them to better simulate precipitation. Their study is the first to apply a stochastic sampling method to select model inputs for precipitation representations and improve atmospheric simulations within a regional weather research and forecasting model. Their approach marks a significant advancement in representing precipitation, one of the most difficult climate components to simulate.
Watching a star explode
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for March 22 features a snapshot of a supernova - a massive star explosion - discovered only a week ago.
O/OREOS nanosatellite success in orbit
NASA’s Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses (O/OREOS) nanosatellite has successfully carried microorganisms to a high-inclination, low-Earth orbit and monitored the effects of the space environment on their growth and metabolism. The 12-pound O/OREOS nanosatellite, which was roughly the size of a loaf of bread, was launched in November 2011 and carried two populations of the microbe Bacillus subtilis into space. One set of microbes was a naturally occurring strain, and the second was a radiation-resistant mutant strain.
Clouds get in the way on Mars
The science team from the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter wanted to take another look at a region of icy sand dunes on Mars to look for seasonal changes as spring is now arriving on the Red Planet’s northern hemisphere. But the view was obstructed by clouds, creating this unusual hazy view.
Radiation risks from Fukushima are likely to be less than for Chernobyl
(PhysOrg.com) -- Radiation exposures to the public in Japan from meltdowns at three Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant reactors in the wake of last year’s 9.0-magnitude earthquake and 45-foot tsunami have been less than what people were exposed to in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster a quarter century ago, according to two experts who spoke at a daylong symposium at UCSF marking the anniversary of the catastrophe in Japan.
Debate still raging on site for super-telescope
An international consortium planning to build the world's most powerful radiotelescope is still debating whether South Africa or Australia should host the $2 billion project, an official said Friday.
New tool developed to assess global freshwater stress
A new method to make better use of vast amounts of data related to global geography, population and climate may help determine the relative importance of population increases vs. climate change.
UN hits water target, but 1.8 billion people still drinking unsafe water, study shows
Recent widespread news coverage heralded the success of a United Nations' goal of greatly improving access to safe drinking water around the world.
Mountaintop blasting to mine the sky with the giant magellan telescope
Astronomers have begun to blast 3 million cubic feet of rock from a mountaintop in the Chilean Andes to make room for what will be the world's largest telescope when completed near the end of the decade. The telescope will be located at the Carnegie Institution's Las Campanas Observatory—one of the world's premier astronomical sites, known for its pristine conditions and clear, dark skies. Over the next few months, more than 70 controlled blasts will break up the rock while leaving a solid bedrock foundation for the telescope and its precision scientific instruments.
2001-2010 warmest decade on record: WMO
Climate change has accelerated in the past decade, the UN weather agency said Friday, releasing data showing that 2001 to 2010 was the warmest decade on record.
Europe launches third robot freighter to space station
An automated craft laden with supplies for the International Space Station (ISS) headed into space on Friday in the heaviest launch ever undertaken by Europe.
Probe mission to explore Titan's miniscule rainfall proposed
(PhysOrg.com) -- Dr. Ralph Lorenz of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) outside of Baltimore has given a talk at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas outlining what has been learned about rainfall on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. He then offered a proposal for sending a new probe to its surface to study the rainfall in more detail. Titan and Earth are the only “worlds” in our solar system that have rainfall, though on Titan, it falls as methane, not water.
Solar storm dumps gigawatts into Earth's upper atmosphere
A recent flurry of eruptions on the sun did more than spark pretty auroras around the poles. NASA-funded researchers say the solar storms of March 8th through 10th dumped enough energy in Earth’s upper atmosphere to power every residence in New York City for two years.
Astronomers put forward new theory on size of black holes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers have put forward a new theory about why black holes become so hugely massive – claiming some of them have no 'table manners', and tip their 'food' directly into their mouths, eating more than one course simultaneously.
Technology news
Facebook warns employers not to demand passwords
(AP) -- Facebook is warning employers not to demand the passwords of job applicants, saying that it's an invasion of privacy that opens companies to legal liabilities.
NRG settlement to fund CA car charging network
(AP) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown says a $120 million settlement with NRG Energy Inc. will fund a statewide network of electric-car charging stations.
Apps could fence in free-range Internet: US study
The free-ranging Internet is under assault by mobile applications that connect people exclusively to content kept in "walled gardens" online, according to a US study released Thursday.
Mobile apps raise new privacy concerns
Smartphone in hand, you tap into your local application store. You click on a nifty tool that promises to massage your belly and pat your head at the same time. But just as you're about to download it, you decide to click on that little Terms of Service icon. And you're hit with a phone-book-sized data dump of not-so-fine fine print.
Indian outsourcers 'employ 100,000 in US'
India's IT outsourcing sector has nearly doubled the number of jobs it has created in the US in the last five years and now employs more than 100,000 people, an industry group said on Friday.
Swarming and transporting
On its own, an ant is not particularly clever. But in a community, the insects can solve complicated tasks. Researchers intend to put this 'swarm intelligence' to use in the logistics field. Lots of autonomous transport shuttles would provide an alternative to traditional materials-handling technology.
Huffington Post to release weekly iPad magazine
The Huffington Post will soon be available in a weekly magazine version for the iPad, president and editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington confirmed at a media summit in Toronto.
The lithium battery as a source of hope
The future belongs to electric vehicles – the experts are convinced of this. But there are a few challenges to overcome before quietly whirring electric cars can completely replace the combustion engine. One such challenge is the power supply: batteries have to be safe, reliable and reasonably priced. Promising developments in this area include lithium cells, which offer the highest energy density. These batteries are not just used in electric cars, though – they're also in demand for the storage of wind and solar energy, for medical examinations or to propel deep-sea vehicles. Fraunhofer researchers will be on hand to demonstrate lithium batteries for a variety of applications at Hannover Messe.
Marine forensics expert Richard Woytowich seeks to vindicate Titanic survivors' account
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, marine forensics expert Richard Woytowich will present a paper re-interpreting the statements made by survivors at the 1912 official inquiries into the disaster.
Zynga founder, other insiders to sell 43M shares
(AP) -- Zynga's CEO and other insiders at the online games company plan to sell 43 million shares of stock in a public offering that will boost the amount of stock available for general trading by 35 percent.
Facebook buys patents from IBM to defend itself
(AP) -- Facebook has acquired patents from IBM as it girds itself for litigation, including a lawsuit by Yahoo.
New surveillance camera can search 36 million faces for matches in one second
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new surveillance camera by Hitachi Kokusai Electric can look at footage that contains an image of someone, either still or video, and then search other video or still images on file for other instances of that same face. In so doing, it can search, process and display up to thirty six million faces in just one second. Each hit is displayed immediately in its native format, i.e. still or video, in thumbnail form, which its makers say, allows the camera to display the actions of a person prior to, or even after, being seen by the surveillance camera. All they need do is click on the thumbnail to watch the video play.
Medicine & Health news
Understanding individual genetic variation can help predict chemotherapy side effects
The largest study ever on the effect of genetic variability on the toxicity of chemotherapy in breast cancer shows that it is possible to predict which patients are most likely to suffer serious side effects, a researcher will tell the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today (Friday). Dr. Christof Vulsteke, from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, will explain how his team's research is an important step towards achieving a personalised chemotherapy regime for each patient.
China to phase out prisoner organ donation
(AP) -- China will abolish the transplanting of organs from executed prisoners within five years and try to spur more citizens to donate, a top health official says.
Insurers speed health care overhaul preparations
(AP) -- The nation's big insurers are spending millions to carry out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul even though there's a chance the wide-reaching law won't survive Supreme Court scrutiny.
Army: PTSD treatable; some diagnosed return to war
(AP) -- It is still not known if the soldier accused of killing 17 Afghans was ever diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder - but even if he had been, that alone would not have prevented him from being sent back to war.
Obama health reform faces Supreme Court test
US President Barack Obama's landmark health reform faces a make-or-break test in the Supreme Court next week in a historic case likely to shape the nation's future political landscape.
Two mothers, two points of view on Obama health reforms
They're both 37 years old, both married, and both mothers of a seriously ill child.
Obama's health care law
The US law that extends health insurance coverage to most Americans, dubbed "Obamacare" by its detractors, is 2,400 pages long but only certain points have been challenged before the US Supreme Court.
Carpenter strives to change ER experience
Emergency physician Chris Carpenter, MD, wishes his grandfather, a sprinter who once competed against the legendary Jesse Owens, had received different care when he visited the emergency department for bumps and scrapes in his final years.
Swine flu outbreak in India kills 12: govt
Twelve people have died from swine flu in India since the beginning of March and nearly 110 others have been infected with the virus, the country's health ministry said.
Everolimus plus exemestane improves bone health in post-menopausal women with advanced breast cancer
Results from a phase III clinical trial evaluating a new treatment for breast cancer in post-menopausal women show that the combination of two cancer drugs, everolimus and exemestane, significantly improves bone strength and reduces the chances of cancer spreading (metastasising) in the bone.
Overweight and obese women at greater risk of breast cancer recurrence
Women who are overweight or obese when they are diagnosed with breast cancer are at higher risk of cancer recurrence or related death than are leaner women, according to a new study to be presented to the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today (Friday). This finding held true even though the study mandated that chemotherapy dosage be adjusted for body weight, and adds further to the evidence that lifestyle factors can influence cancer prognosis, a researcher will tell the conference.
Ultrasound-guided surgery is best way to remove breast tumours
The use of ultrasound-guided surgery to remove tumours from women who have palpable breast cancer is much more successful than standard surgery in excising all the cancerous tissue while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible, according to the results of a randomised controlled trial.
New study quantifies the enormous cost of fragility fractures in Europe
Researchers at the European Congress of Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis in Bordeaux have presented new data* which shows that the economic burden of fragility fractures in the 27 member states of the European Union far exceeds previous estimates, with hip fractures accounting for around 55% of costs.
Conjoined twins die in Madagascar after operation
A pair of six-month-old conjoined twins who were connected at the stomach, sternum and liver have died in Madagascar two days after a marathon surgery to separate them, their doctor said Friday.
Periodontal therapy reduces hospitalizations and medical care costs in diabetics
Today, during the 41st Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), held in conjunction with the 36th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, an abstract titled "Periodontal Therapy Reduces Hospitalizations and Medical Care Costs in Diabetics" to determine if periodontal treatment was associated with the number of hospitalizations and cost of medical care among diabetics with periodontal disease.
NIH launches online resource on behavioral and social science research methods
A Web-based interactive anthology will provide psychologists, economists, anthropologists, sociologists and other scientists with the latest research methods and tools to address emerging challenges in public health, such as the obesity epidemic and the rise of chronic diseases such as heart disease. The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) at the National Institutes of Health collaborated with New England Research Institutes to create the free resource (http://www.esourceresearch.org/), called e-Source.
Stigma linked to depression among lung cancer patients
Studying the role of social stigma in depression for lung cancer patients, researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., have found that depression can be heightened by a lung cancer patient's sense of social rejection, internalized shame and social isolation. These factors may contribute to depression at rates higher than experienced by patients with other kinds of cancer.
Stroke Progress Review Group sets priorities for future NIH stroke rehabilitation research
In 2011, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) convened the Stroke Progress Review Group (SPRG) to conduct a final 10-year review of the state of stroke research. The goal is to set priorities and shape future NINDS programs and policies. While SPRG found much available data for maximizing stroke rehabilitation outcomes, translation to clinical practice is inadequate. To realize the enormous potential for improving rehabilitation and recovery, more resources should be applied to implementing and directly supporting SPRG's recommendations.
Free nicotine patches and counseling offered by national smoking helpline don't help quitters
A major research trial to test the effectiveness of offering smokers free nicotine patches and proactive telephone counselling through the English national quitline has shown this extra support makes no difference to success rates for quitting the habit.
Experts challenge FDA over approval for new dose of Alzheimer's drug
Approval for a new dose of a best-selling Alzheimer's drug "breached the FDA's own regulatory standard" and has led to "incomplete and distorted messages" about the drug, warn experts in the British Medical Journal today.
Home alone -- depression highest for those living alone
The number of people living on their own has doubled, over the last three decades, to one in three in the UK and US. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Public Health shows that the risk of depression, measured by people taking antidepressants, is almost 80% higher for those living alone compared to people living in any kind of social or family group.
How music prevents heart transplant rejection
Music has a fundamental affect on humans. It can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, provide a distraction from pain, and improve the results of clinical therapy. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery demonstrates that music can reduce rejection of heart transplants in mice by influencing the immune system.
How a mother's genes can increase birth weight
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at the UCL Institute of Child Health have found a single genetic variant inherited from the mother significantly increases a baby’s birth weight.
Watching Harry Potter films enhances creativity in children: study
Parents who feel guilty about letting their young children watch too many fantasy movies on TV can relax.
Prem babies may lag in language later on
Children who were born prematurely may lag behind their peers when it comes to more advanced language skills, according to an international study that involved more than 2000 children.
Low serum adiponectin levels predict future risk for asthma in women
Low serum adiponectin levels predict an increased future risk for developing asthma in middle-aged women, particularly among smokers, according to a new study.
Supreme Court to reignite US health care debate
History may judge Barack Obama's health care plan either as the anchor of a legacy of reform, or an emblem of a presidency born in high ambition but dragged down by political reality.
Allergies ahead of schedule in Eastern United States
(HealthDay) -- The unusually warm spring weather in New York and other parts of the eastern United States has trees and other plants blooming much earlier than normal, which could mean a long and intense allergy season.
Antidepressants may raise risk for pregnancy complication
(HealthDay) -- Pregnant women taking the antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) face a slightly increased risk of developing dangerously high blood pressure, Canadian researchers report.
Surgery a safe, effective option for many epilepsy patients
Treatment for epilepsy typically focuses on medication, with some patients spending 20 years or more on a variety of drugs in search of effective management of the condition. But a UC Health neurologist says that for many epilepsy patients, surgery can result in a seizure-free lifestyle.
Key to good health? A proper diet for the brain
(Medical Xpress) -- When a psychiatrist sets out to write a diet book, he doesn’t have a slimmer waistline in mind. Drew Ramsey, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and coauthor of The Happiness Diet (Rodale, 2011), believes good health and happiness are achieved when the brain is consistently fed all the nutrients it needs for optimal cognitive and emotional functioning.
Biomarkers for autism discovered
(Medical Xpress) -- An important step towards developing a rapid, inexpensive diagnostic method for autism has been take by Uppsala University, among other universities. Through advanced mass spectrometry the researchers managed to capture promising biomarkers from a tiny blood sample. The study has just been published in the prestigious journal Nature Translational Psychiatry.
Possible causes of sudden onset obsessive compulsive disorder in kids broadened
Criteria for a broadened syndrome of acute onset obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have been proposed by a National Institutes of Health scientist and her colleagues. The syndrome, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), includes children and teens that suddenly develop on-again/off-again OCD symptoms or abnormal eating behaviors, along with other psychiatric symptoms — without any known cause.
Scientists uncover route to tumour's energy supply
Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered how blocking a key enzyme, which helps convert glucose into energy, could provide a new way to kill prostate cancer cells, according to a study published in the journal Cancer Discovery today (Thursday).
Britain targets binge-drinking with minimum alcohol price
The British government will introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol in England and Wales to tackle their infamous binge-drinking culture, Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday.
When a child with autism wanders, it's crucial to stay a step ahead
(HealthDay) -- The Oertel family lives in a red-brick, two-story house tucked in a tree-lined, suburban Maryland cul-de-sac. There's no fence, just a small alarm company sign on the lawn that gives no clue to the system's real purpose.
Most anal lesions don't cause cancer in men, research shows
(HealthDay) -- Anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and precancerous lesions are common among gay and bisexual men, but most of these cases will not progress to anal cancer, a new analysis of earlier research shows.
Study: Preoperative estrogen-blocking therapy may preempt need for mastectomy
Preoperative treatment with aromatase inhibitors increases the likelihood that postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer will be able to have breast-conserving surgery rather than a mastectomy, according to the results of a national clinical trial presented today at the Society of Surgical Oncology annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Study role testosterone may play in triple negative breast cancer
Could blocking a testosterone receptor lead to a new way to treat an aggressive form of breast cancer? That's a question researchers at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) are exploring. Preliminary results of a Mayo Clinic - TGen collaborative study shows the testosterone receptor may be a potential target to attack in treating triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Cambridge psychotic disorders study charts the past to anticipate the future
A new Cambridge-led study has examined the past 60 years of incidence data on psychotic disorders in England in the hope that the data can reveal clues about the possible social factors which appear to underpin such conditions.
Fruit flies get kidney stones too
Kidney stones are agonising, and can lead to medical complications. There are many causes and types of stone, but the number of cases diagnosed is continuing to rise. Short term treatment, as anyone who has suffered from this condition will know, can involve high strength painkillers and ultrasound to shatter the stones and allow them to pass. However, even with this course of treatment there is still a 60% risk of reoccurrence, and attempts to find preventative treatments have been hindered by the difficulties in finding a ‘model’ system; stones are likely to be as agonizing for lab animals as for humans.
Study identifies genetic variants linked to fatty liver disease in obese children
New research found the genetic variant Patatin-like phospholipase domain containing protein-3 (PNPLA3) acting in conjunction with the glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) is associated with increased susceptibility to fatty liver disease in obese children. The study, published in the March issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, determined the PNPLA3 and GCKR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were responsible for up to 39% of the hepatic fat content in this pediatric population.
Researchers validate the potential of a protein for the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Researchers at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona, Spain)) have discovered that deficiency of a single protein, Mitofusin 2, in muscle and hepatic cells of mice is sufficient to cause tissues to become insensitive to insulin, thus producing an increase in blood glucose concentrations. These are the two most common conditions prior to development of diabetes type 2. Published in this week's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study validates Mitofusin 2 as a possible target for the treatment of diabetes type 2.
Alzheimer's drug sharply criticized by medical experts
Watching Alzheimer's disease steal away the memory, talents and very selves of its victims is hard enough for the people who love them. But a new pill formulated by a respected pharmaceutical company and approved by the Food and Drug Administration will do little to help most patients and bring misery to some, say two medical investigators.
Wireless medical monitors set to transform patient care
It's hard to find a better example of how technology is revolutionizing patient care than the tiny edible sensor Proteus Biomedical of Redwood City, Calif., plans to begin selling this fall in the United Kingdom.
Expectations, exhaustion can lead mothers to post-adoption stress
Fatigue and unrealistic expectations of parenthood may help contribute to post-adoption depression in women, according to a Purdue University study.
Identifying acute myeloid leukemia gene mutations may indicate risk, best treatment
An international group of researchers, including those from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., have published a paper in the March 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reviewing the results of a study that analyzed mutations in 18 genes of 398 patients who had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They found that several mutated genes predicted improved outcomes when patients with certain gene mutations were given high-dose induction chemotherapy. Their findings suggest that mutational profiling could potentially be used for both risk stratification and also in helping health care providers make therapeutic decisions for some AML patients.
Non-narcotic pain medication is safe and effective after sinus surgery
Patients who have undergone sinus surgery can safely take an alternative pain medication that does not cause the side effects of narcotics such as fentanyl and Vicodin, a Loyola University Health System study has found.
A new test might facilitate diagnosis and drug development for Alzheimer's disease
An international team of researchers have developed a new method for measurement of aggregated beta-amyloid – a protein complex believed to cause major nerve cell damage and dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. The new method might facilitate diagnosis and detection as well as development of drugs directed against aggregated beta-amyloid.
New research uses 3D imaging to improve the lives of lung disease patients
Pioneering research in Southampton, using hi-tech 3D imaging, could improve the lives of those suffering from chronic lung disease.
Drug-Eluting stents reduce risk of thrombosis
(HealthDay) -- Cobalt-chromium everolimus eluting stents (CoCr-EES) are associated with a significantly lower rate of stent thrombosis within two years of implantation, compared with other bare-metal and drug-eluting stents, according to a meta-analysis published online March 23 in The Lancet.
Drug-resistant TB blamed on Indian treatment flaws
(AP) -- India's inadequate government-run tuberculosis treatment programs and a lack of regulation of the sale of drugs that fight it are responsible for the spiraling number of drug-resistant cases that are difficult to treat, health activists said Friday.
Hormonal changes may trigger migraines in some women
(HealthDay) -- Hormonal changes are a major reason women are far more likely than men to have migraine headaches, research suggests.
Aspirin enhances platelet isoprostanes in type 2 diabetes
(HealthDay) -- For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who are treated with aspirin, isoprostanes are overproduced, which is linked with enhanced platelet recruitment, according to a study published online March 16 in Diabetes.
New epilepsy gene located in dogs
A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. The research of Professor Hannes Lohi and his group conducted at the University of Helsinki and the Folkhälsan Research Center opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans. The research is published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE on March 23, 2012.
Talking about weight tied to poor self-Image, depression: study
(HealthDay) -- People who often make comments about their weight are more likely to have a poor body image and to suffer depression, according to a new study.
Gene gives cells a 'safety belt' against genetic damage
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers at King’s College London have identified a gene which offers cells a ‘safety belt’ against genetic damage by stopping them dividing at the wrong time.
Researchers show that memories reside in specific brain cells
Our fond or fearful memories — that first kiss or a bump in the night — leave memory traces that we may conjure up in the remembrance of things past, complete with time, place and all the sensations of the experience. Neuroscientists call these traces memory engrams.
The impossible staircase in our heads: how we visualise the world around us
(Medical Xpress) -- Our interpretation of the world around us may have more in common with the impossible staircase illusion than it does the real world, according to research published today in the open access journal PLoS ONE. The study, which was funded by the Wellcome Trust, suggests that we do not hold a three-dimensional representation of our surroundings in our heads as was previously thought.
Learning best when you rest: Sleeping after processing new info most effective, new study shows
Nodding off in class may not be such a bad idea after all. New research from the University of Notre Dame shows that going to sleep shortly after learning new material is most beneficial for recall.
Highly flexible despite hard-wiring -- even slight stimuli change the information flow in the brain
One cup or two faces? What we believe we see in one of the most famous optical illusions changes in a split second; and so does the path that the information takes in the brain. In a new theoretical study, scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, the Bernstein Center Göttingen and the German Primate Center now show how this is possible without changing the cellular links of the network. The direction of information flow changes, depending on the time pattern of communication between brain areas. This reorganisation can be triggered even by a slight stimulus, such as a scent or sound, at the right time.
Biology news
Man vs. Shark: Australia's battle for the deep
Rolling from his surfboard, blood gushing from the wound where a shark had just ripped a big chunk of flesh from his thigh, Australian Glen Folkard had just one thought: "I'm alive."
Vietnam police seize frozen pangolins, iguanas
Vietnamese police have seized five tonnes of frozen pangolins and iguanas that were destined for the cooking pot in China, an official said Friday.
Megalara garuda: the King of Wasps
A new and unusual wasp species has been discovered during an expedition to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability
In the search for sustainability of the ocean's fisheries, solutions can be found in a surprising place: the ancient past.
Plant DNA speaks English, identifies new species
The important changes to the way scientists name new plants that took effect on 1 January 2012 included the fall of the so-called Latin requirement - a stipulation that descriptions or diagnoses of new species had to be in Latin.
Citrus greening bacterium may 'ring the dinner bell' to attract insect
The bacterium responsible for citrus greening causes infected trees to give off a scent that rings the dinner bell for the disease-carrying insect, University of Florida researchers say.
An elusive new scorpion species from California lives underground
Even in places as seemly well-studied as the national parks of North America, new species are still being discovered. Using ultraviolet light that cause scorpions to fluoresce a ghostly glow, researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) have discovered an intriguing new scorpion in Death Valley National Park. They named the species Wernerius inyoensis, after the Inyo Mountains where it was found. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
Researchers develop new technique to assess diversity of plant species from afar
By analyzing vegetation information collected by satellites over time instead of for just one day, scientists in the Michigan State University Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (CSIS) have developed a novel procedure to assess the composition of plant species in an area.
An extinct species of scops owl has been discovered in Madeira
An international team of scientists, including some from Majorca and the Canary Islands, have described a new type of fossil scops owl, the first extinct bird on the archipelago of Madeira (Portugal). Otus mauli, which was also the first nocturnal bird of prey described in the area, lived on land and became extinct as a result of humans arriving on the island.
Huge hamsters and pint-sized porcupines thrive on islands
From miniature elephants to monster mice, and even Hobbit-sized humans, size changes in island animals are well-known to science. Biologists have long believed that large animals evolving on islands tend to get smaller, while small animals tend to get bigger, a generalization they call "the island rule."
Embryonic stem cells shift metabolism in cancer-like way upon implanting in uterus
Shortly after a mouse embryo starts to form, some of its stem cells undergo a dramatic metabolic shift to enter the next stage of development, Seattle researchers report today. These stem cells start using and producing energy like cancer cells.
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